About James

I've been an unconventional leader since I was a teenager. First with the scout movement, then the Territorial Army. After university I joined the UK civil service on a graduate management development programme. My career is now in its third decade and I've worked in Finance, HR, policy, strategy, IT, change, operations management and internal consultancy. Over the years I've mentored, coached and developed dozens of senior managers and hundreds of people.

Inquiry as a Tool for Leaders

Inquiry should form the basis for leadership decision-making and action, because without productive inquiry you cannot be certain what needs to be done.  Here’s a bit I wrote for an assignment while studying Leadership, Influencing and Change with the Open University. Continue reading Inquiry as a Tool for Leaders

Sal Khan: Let’s Teach for Mastery [TED Talk]

I watched this TED Talk on teaching for mastery and thought it was interesting. I think it’s an excellent way to approach learning, especially as an adult in the workplace. In practice it means structuring learning so that we only move Continue reading Sal Khan: Let’s Teach for Mastery [TED Talk]

Failure is the Foundation for Success

Our culture fears failure more than anything else. We talk about failure less than we talk about death, even though failure is way more common than fatality. If we are honest we know that there are many things we do Continue reading Failure is the Foundation for Success

How will you be choosing your next boss?

I’m now in a position of needing to choose my next boss. My loan to DCMS is nearly over, a year has flown by, mostly very enjoyable. If I had a free choice I’d be staying here, my team are Continue reading How will you be choosing your next boss?

Narrative and Social Media

revolutionary warfare in France 1789

I had a bit of a lightbulb moment the other day about social media and the driving of narrative. It was when I was doing my analysis on the recent coup attempt in Turkey. Narrative Power As any reader of Terry Continue reading Narrative and Social Media